She thought I was a guy

So I was riding through town on my way home from a ride through the refuge, and as I'm approaching a light that ought to turn green, this chick and two guys were crossing the street between my bike and the light. I guess sportbike to most people evokes the notion that the rider must be a guy because she tried to flag me down.

She ought to know what happens when one assumes. You find yourself flagging down a pink-bootlace rocking female rider.

The Ride That Never Was

Yeah, I totally stole that from a book. In this crazy heat wave we currently have, I was pleased to find that there are enough crazy people who are still riding. I think, I'll take this moment to define riding. Riding = at least 25 miles of being on a bike moving in a certain direction (preferably not down). Riding does not mean riding the streets of town (riding the cruise) or "riding" to a car wash. Unfortunately, most riders who ride (as defined) have cruisers (no offense intended). Looks like I need to find some cruisers to ride with because finding someone with a sportbike who rides and doesn't belong to a club is a challenge which I am tired of. Guess I'll be riding solo for the most part.

I found a couple of riders who were interested in going to Lake Altus with me. You know what they say about the best laid plans. We got off to a late start and after the boys were happily fed, there wasn't really the time. So a 200 mile ride turned into an 80 mile ride. It was a little warm, and my face received a free sauna from the brainbucket. Speaking of motorcycle apparel and heat, the Red Route Kevlar jeans I invested in are awesome. I was worried that they might be unbearable in the heat, but they're no worse than my regular jeans. I had to take out the knee guard, though. The knee guards never sit right, but there's Kevlar where the guards were.
Almost makes me want to test my jeans:

The Longest Tune-Up Ever

That's what Blueberry's tune-up has become. I've been tinkering around here and there. Okay, I've also been putting it off since I've never changed the spark plugs on a newer bike before. So I pried off the lower, middle, and upper fairings on both sides. A note on the upper fairings: they suck. Not really, but watch out for those annoying "clips" There are 4 under the nose that need to be removed before it can pop off. It's extremely sad that something so simple can make me feel so stupid. (In the mean time, I have mastered those simple clips. Yay for Blondie!) After reading on some forums (mainly this Godsend), I determined that I ought to be fine with the tools I have. I drained the coolant (for the flush I plan on doing) and lowered the radiator in order to get to the spark plugs a little better. I've learned a couple of things:
1. It's a good idea to take off the radiator.
2. Ignition coils annoy me.
It's a tight fit. It took me a while to determine the proper combination of extensions as well as convince the ignition coils they were going to behave. Since all the fairings are off, I think I'll go ahead give 'em a good wash and wax.

I haven't terrorized the streets in forever! Hoping to get the flush and plugs done before the weekend is over. Looking for some good riding locations. Suggestions???

So...

It helps if one takes the silencer out. Good to know.

Leo Vince Exhaust

Stock Exhaust

It's been forever since I've posted. Hell, it's been forever since I've left my house. My battery totally died last Sunday (RIP you crappy battery), and I went a little crazy shopping for parts.
Let's see. Blueberry's 2 year anniversary tune-up will include:

• A new battery (Yay for power!)
• A coolant flush (Did you know that flies love Engine Ice?)
• NGK spark plugs
• Chain tightening
• A new pulse generator (Only because the current one's leak is starting to gush rather than trickle)
• And a Leo Vince slip-on exhaust. 

 The exhaust was here before my pulse generator and battery made it, so I put it on right away. No amusing anecdotes from that adventure. However, it wasn't until I was totally psyched and tried pushing the start button, that I realized no battery = no power.

So, I impatiently waited on my battery...

Crawds N Rods 2011

Blueberry and I headed out to Elgin, OK for their annual car show.

Another year of Crawds N Rods gone by. If you missed it, make sure to check it out next year. It's an awesome fundraiser for the Elgin Fire Department, which happened to be raffling off this custom built bike:

 

More pictures are on the Facebook album!

There were many newer models (mustangs, corvettes, challengers, etc), but I'll spare you my opinion on those.

Blueberry Anniversary is Drawing Nigh

We've been inseparable for almost 2 years. Miles logged thus far: 27,517.

Showing some German pride

July 1st is when I bought Blueberry(...I think). Any bets on Blueberry mileage by July 1st, 2011?

Cache

So after all this time, and the countless times I've ridden through Cache, I don't think I've ever posted anything about Cache. So here we are. Cache is located about 12 miles west of Lawton. It's one of my many regular detours. Gotta head home, yet don't really want to? No problem. Swing through Cache and the Refuge on the way home. Not enough? Then there's Mt. Scott and Medicine Park...oh the detouring options!

So there's this place in Cache that's been around forever called the Trading Post. When I stopped the dude (owner) wasn't there, hence it wasn't open. He was off chasing cows (I hope that's not like "chasing the dragon"...), but if there's a small green truck out front, then it's open. Small town hours, eh? I have fond memories of running through the trading post back in the day with my cousins when they visited from Germany. The owner was a big history book. So, if you see that truck, it's worth the stop. He owns the former homes of Quanah Parker and Frank James (Jesse James' brother). One used to be able to arrange for a tour, but I'm not sure if that still goes.

Star House. Pic not mine. Click link below.

Quanah's Star House was moved after Fort Sill almost destroyed it (haha, so I guess it's not a new past time). So, Eagle Park used to be a park, but it closed over 25 years ago. For more info click here.

Pic not mine. Click the link below.

This home is now in Eagle Park also. For more info about Frank James click here.

Also, there's was small Mexican restaurant in Cache on Main St. The building of which has this pretty cool mural on it. I think both mural and restaurant are long gone now (2013).

More pictures are on WGR's Facebook page.
This blog is brought to you by the lovely (biased opinion, we know) Stone Turtle – Lodging, a small family owned and operated hotel / lodging business near Lawton, Oklahoma, Fort Sill,  the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Meers and Medicine Park. Yeah, that’s right we’re a small lodging business close to all the awesomeness Oklahoma has to offer!!

Never gets old

What one finds while procrastinating

I took these videos at the No Limit stunt show in May 2009 at House of Kawasaki up in OKC.